One dead, another critical after Unity crash

UNITY, Maine — One driver is still in critical condition at a Bangor hospital and another is dead after a head-on crash that happened early Wednesday morning on route 9 in Unity.

John D. Canavan, 51, of Freedom, died at about 4 p.m. Wednesday at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. He had been taken there by LifeFlight helicopter after the accident, according to police reports from the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office.

The accident happened just after 5 a.m., when Waylonhawk M. Milliard, 20, of Unity apparently fell asleep at the wheel of his 2000 Ford van, Chief Deputy Robert Keating said Thursday.

Fire and emergency crews from Unity and Troy were the first to arrive at the scene. It took rescuers about an hour using the Jaws of Life to get Canavan out of his Subaru, according to Det. Jason Bosco of the Sheriff’s Office.

Milliard first was taken by Unity Ambulance to Mid Maine Medical Center in Waterville, then transferred to EMMC. An official there said Thursday morning that he was still in critical condition.

Also assisting at the scene were Sgt. James Porter and Deputy Gerald Lincoln of the Sheriff’s Office.

Maine State Police will reconstruct the accident, which remains under investigation, Keating said Thursday.